Two-day workshop to explore renewable energy

Chandigarh, Aug 4 (UNI) US Department of State and Punjab Energy Development Agecy (PEDA) today held a workshop on "Grid Connected Renewable Energy and Cogeneration, Independent Power" under the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

Punjab Science and Technology Secretary AS Chhatwal said that the the purpose of the two-day workshop, which will conclude tomorrow, was to promote policy and regulatory changes and encourage incentives to accelerate the development and interconnection of renewable energy and distributed generation projects into the Indian power system.

In his keynote address, Mr Chhatwal dwelled on the major policy initiatives of the state government in promoting the renewable energy based projects.

PEDA, which is the state nodal agency for the promotion and development of renewable energy and energy conservation in Punjab, is already actively promoting the setting up of co-generation and independent power projects based on various renewable energy sources such as small hydro, biomass and solar power, he said.

"The state has already peak load shortages especially during harvesting seasons and to fill up these demand supply gaps, renewable energy projects shall be contributing their generation capacities." "This workshop is one of the initiatives to address the major issues on grid connectivity and regulatory matters relating to renewable energy power projects," he said.

During the workshop, panel discussions and keynote addresses were given on topics such as interconnecting to the power grid, maintaining grid reliability and stability, successful policies, regulation and incentives for renewable and cogeneration development, and successful renewable energy and cogeneration technologies and projects.

Participants from private developers, IPPs, industry, government regulators, state nodal agencies, utilities, equipment manufacturers, co-generators attended the workshop.

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